MOST of northern Spain will be hit by gales and snow today (Sunday), and coastal areas – including in the south – could see tidal surges.

Members of the public are urged to stay off the seafront in the provinces of Almería and Granada in Andalucía, and also along the Costa Brava and in north-western Galicia.

Heavy snow is expected to fall in the Aragonese provinces of Huesca and Zaragoza, although possibly also in Teruel.

But the positive side of this is that the region of Aragón is an immensely popular skiing destination, and the extra white stuff means the season is expected to last longer this year.

Parts of the centre-northern region of Castilla y León – the provinces of Burgos, Palencia and León in particular – will suffer snow and gales, as will the inland province of Catalunya, Lleida, plus most of Galicia and the Basque Country.

Tidal surges are likely in Asturias and Cantabria (pictured) along the northern strip.

Snow will fall at altitudes of 400 metres above sea-level and higher, meaning many more northerly parts of the country have snow-ploughs and road-gritters on standby just in case.

Strong winds and possible storms are forecast today in the Canary Islands, although these are more likely on the mainland where a north-west wind could reach gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour.